Now the East Kilbride Talking Newspaper team have issued a plea for volunteers as they look to keep going in 2018.

The charity, which was set up in 1981 to bring the news from the East Kilbride News to blind and partially-sighted people in the area every week, have joined the digital revolution – changing over from cassette tapes to new digital technology.

And tech-savvy folk are required to ensure this lifeline service is able to continue.

The East Kilbride News is recorded onto USB memory sticks and the Talking Newspaper group can provide listeners with the boom box machinery they require free of charge to make this possible.

Vice-chair Anne Robertson has seen first hand how much of a difference their service makes to people’s lives.

“I’ve got a friend with cataracts and that makes it difficult for her to get out of the house,” she said.

“I go and visit her and she now knows more about what is happening in East Kilbride than me!”

The team provide the news for those who are blind or partially sighted (Image: East Kilbride News)

Technicians – who record the audio of the devoted reading team – are the big focus.

The new recruits would be asked to give up just three hours a month with training provided as they listen to the news being read for an hour-and-a-half.

Current technician and journalism student David Hogg had studied use of technology equipment – and runs his own radio show.

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“In the future we might like to extend it to the housebound and we do send to some care homes.”

Secretary Deirdre Osmond adds: “Unfortunately most of our listeners are elderly and have sadly been passing away. People may not realise we are still here and the service is available – but we try and publicise ourselves as much as possible.”

As well as the East Kilbride News, the Scottish Farmer is read and recorded on a Monday and there is a magazine – featuring quizzes and other useful information – once a month.

Vice-chair of the charity, Anne Robertson (Image: East Kilbride News)

Lesley thanked the Talking Newspaper’s backers in 2017 and hopes more people and organisations come forward this year.

“The arts centre have been fantastic in supporting us,” she said, “and Royal Mail come up to collect the parcels every day.

“We’re grateful to the volunteers we have here who give up their time every month. We get very good comments from our listeners.

“When you visit, you realise how important it is to people and that makes it all worthwhile.”